Uncommon Part 2 - Love | February 12, 2023

Uncommon defined:

• to be remarkable, extraordinary, and exceptional. Something outstanding, notable.
• Jesus didn’t come to just give us life, but abundant life. It’s life beyond.

a) God is

.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. —1 John 4:7

b) God

in love.

If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. —1 John 4:12

c) Love drives

fear.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. —1 John 4:18

d) Love

fails. 1 Cor. 13:8

e) God has given us the

of love.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. —2 Timothy 1:7

Agape:
- Agape -

, unconditional love.
- C.S. Lewis called it “

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love”. John 3:16 - God so agap-ed the world that He gave his only begotten son.
- It is a love filled with the goodness, grace, and

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of God.
- It also means to

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, and it is often translated charity and connected to Christian hospitality.

• Agape love always
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  .

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” —John 13:34-35

• Jesus changes it all up with an uncommon love - he expanded the
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  of love.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. —Matthew 5:43-48

 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m

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that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. [that’s easy/common] If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” —Matthew 5:43-48 The Message

Uncommon Love

1. Love moves in the

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Spirit.

• Move in the opposite spirit – Love, Bless, Do Good, Pray.

• Let enemies and adversarial situations bring out the

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  in you, not the worst.

# 2. Love initiates instead of reacting.

• Loving like Jesus loves means to love
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  .
• Grace established a superior law. You are not
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  to react based on actions that happen around you.

Progression in Matthew 5:44
a) It starts with attitude –

.
b) Then it progresses to speech.
c) Speech becomes

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– do good to them. I John 3:18 - My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
d) That leads to prayer. Pray for them.

3. Take after your

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.

• God doesn’t withhold kindness because it’s not
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  .